Collection Overview

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The "Connemara Transfer" of the Carl Sandburg papers (1898-1962) includes typescripts and corrected galley proofs of Sandburg's works and correspondence (1916-62) with literary and public figures, scholars and admirers about writing, American folk songs, Abraham Lincoln, journalism and lecture tours. The collection also contains a Spanish-American War diary (1898), lectures (1908- 09), recordings and transcriptions of Sandburg's radio broadcasts and lectures and magazine articles and newspaper clippings by and about him. The papers also include Lombard College publications (1898-1902), material concerning the Chicago Daily News (1917-32) and a supporting book collection of approximately 5,000 volumes.

The collection was originally arranged numerically 1 through 468. Sections of the first 152 boxes were rearranged into a material type arrangement through the Save American History Project.Ã????Ã??? Ã???Ã?Â For a topic based finding aid, please go to the following link.

Biographical Note

Internationally renowned author-poet and collector Carl August Sandburg was born Jan. 6, 1878 the second of seven children to Swedish immigrants August and Clara Anderson Sandburg in Galesburg, Illinois.

After finishing eighth grade, he worked as a milkman, ice harvester, bricklayer, wheat thresher, shoe shiner, soldier, and fireman over a decade. He also traveled as a hobo. His experiences working and traveling greatly influenced his writing and political views.

Sandburg attended Lombard College starting in 1898, and joined its Poor Writers' Club, founded by professor Phillip Green Wright, who encouraged young Sandburg and printed Sandburg's first book of verse, In Reckless Ecstasyin 1904 and two additional volumes in 1907 Incidentals) and 1908 (the Plaint of a Rose).

Sandburg met Lilian Ana "Paula" Steichen at the Wisconsin Social Democratic party headquarters, where he worked as an organizer, and married her in 1908. After marriage, he returned to Illinois and took up journalism.

His poetry was published in 1914 in Poetry magazine, and he went on to publish more poetry, along with Rootabaga Stories, a book of fanciful children's tales, in 1922. That book prompted Sandburg's publisher to suggest a biography of Lincoln for children. Instead, Sandburg's ensuing three years of research led to a two-volume biography for adults, Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years, his first financial success. He next wrote four additional volumes, Abraham Lincoln: The War Years, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940. Sandburg continued as a prolific writer, publishing more poetry, a novel, Remembrance Rock, a second volume of folk songs, and an autobiography, Always the Young Strangers. His Complete Poems won him a second Pulitzer Prize in 1951. Considered by many as the "Poet of the People" and called "the Voice of America" by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Died July 22, 1967 at his North Carolina home. Survived by three daughters Margaret (b. 3 Jun 1911), Janet (b. 27 Jun 1916), and Helga (b. Nov 1918), and preceded in death by Madeline (b. and d. Nov 1913).

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Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study scholarship or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement.

This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgement, fulfillment of the order would damage materials or involve violation of copyright law.

The Rare Book & Manuscript Library has several databases related to materials that may be found in the H. G. Wells papers. Please contact the library's staff for more information about these resources.